Ludwig Kaiser struggles with time management in Speed debut

The former NXT tag champ showed a lack of urgency as time ran out on Gunther’s sidekick.

WWE launched a new four-man tournament this week to determine a new challenger for Ricochet’s Speed Championship. The opening match featured the Speed debuts of Tommaso Ciampa and Ludwig Kaiser.

Judging by Kaiser’s performance, the self-proclaimed A-plus specimen earned an F-minus for his poor display of time management.

Unlike other matches in this format that saw superstars tear into each other from the start, this encounter began with a classic tie-up that didn’t portray a sense of urgency. If it weren’t for the graphics to remind viewers that this was a Speed division match-up, one would simply mistake this for a regular wrestling match. To his credit, Kaiser held the advantage for the most part, but what he did in between moves made this contest stand out.

After delivering a strike, Kaiser would either taunt the crowd or take a moment to admire his work, licking his lips in delight. With each passing second, one had to wonder when Kaiser might pick up the pace before the three-minute time limit expired. With less than 60 seconds remaining, though, that’s what happened.

Kaiser scored with a stiff clothesline and a running soccer kick to Ciampa’s face to earn a near-fall. But with 30 seconds left, Kaiser again wasted time, opting to vent his frustrations rather than stay on top of Ciampa. As the match seemed headed for a draw, Kaiser attempted his version of Sister Abigail. However, Ciampa quickly countered, rolling him up and executing the Fairy Tale Ending to secure the win with six seconds remaining.

Ciampa’s opponent in the finals will be decided next week when two founders of wrestling’s most celebrated stables face off. Andrade, a co-creator of Los Ingobernables in Mexico, will take on Karl Anderson, a Bullet Club original.

As for Kaiser, it’s back to the drawing board for one of the final pieces of Imperium. He’ll have a chance to prove himself this coming Monday on Raw against Sheamus. If Kaiser is to become a top solo act, he’ll need a strong character performance against the former WWE Champion because a victory over Sheamus doesn’t seem likely following his speedy collapse against Ciampa.